Direction-indicator for automobiles



M. U. GIOVANNETTI. DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1920.

Patented July 5, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET M. U. GIOVANNETTI. DIRECTION INDICATOR ron AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1920.

mm z

m e 4 mm 2 F M m l t hl n .I. m 6 D1 STATES;

FATENT DIRECTION-INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Application filed September 27, 1920. Serial No. 412,985.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it lmown that I, MARIO USAI GIOVAN-NETTI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in thecounty of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Direction-Indicators for Automobiles; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription or" the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in directionindicators for automobiles and has for its primary object the proydsionof means whereby the driver of the automobile may easily and quicklymove the indicator or signal into signaling position to indicate totrafiic a turn from a straight course for preventing collisions oraccidents and also to obviate the usual practice of the driver extendingthe hand or arm laterally of the automobile. I

Another object of this invention is the provision of oppositely disposedindicators so mounted in a casing that they are hidden from view when innonsignaling position and which may be quickly moved exteriorly of thecasing or into signaling position when desiring to indicate a turn froma straight course in either direction, and when in the latter positionwill be clearly distinguishable by trafiic in the vicinity of therespective automobile. I

A further object of this invention is the provision of a directionindicator for auto? mobiles of the above stated character, which will besimple, durable and eflicient, and which may be manufactured and sold ata comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe followlowing description and accompanying drawings in whic Figure 1is a front elevation, illustrating a direction indicator applied to afragmentary portion of an automobile radiator with one of the signalselevated or in a signaling position,

2 is a vertical sectional view illustrat ng the same, Fig. 3 is adiagrammatical view illustratmg the means of operating the indicators orsignals, F 4 is a vertical sectional view illustratmg the constructionof one of the signalsor indicators,

F g. 5 is a detail view illustrating the tens on means for the signalsor indicators,

F 1g. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of'Fig. 4.

eferring in detail to the drawings, the

numeral 1 indicates a casing adapted to be secured to the front of anautomobile radiator 2 in any suitable manner and said casing has locatedtherein oppositely disposed indicators or signals 3 and which aremovable outwardly of the casing by way of the top wall of the casing.The upper end of the casing is fully open so as to permit free movementof the indicators orsignals into and out of the casing. The front wallof the casing is preferably in the shape of an eagle with the wingsextended. Bell crank levers 41- are pivoted in the casing as illustratedat 5 and each has a comparatively short arm 6 and a long arm 7. Theindicators 3 have formed thereon ears 8 which are in turn pivoted to thelong arms 7 of the bell crank levers i as shown at 9. The comparativelylong arms 7 of the bell crank levers are adapted to rest horizontallywithin the easing with the indicators disposed over the same. Leafsprings 10 are disposed about the pivots 9 and have one of their endsdisposed against the indicators or signals while their other arms bearagainst the arms 7 of the vbell crank levers 4 for the purpose ofmaintaining the indicators or signals horizontally when elevated ormoved into signalin position.

@prings 11 corresponding to the springs 10 are mounted on the pivots 5of the bell crank levers and one of the ends of the springs bearsagainst the arms 7 and the other end againstithe casing 1 and is adaptedto normally urge the arms? into horizontal positions for the purpose ofmoving the signals or indicators from signaling positions intonon-signaling position or within the casing. Cables 12 are connected tothe arms 6 of the bell crank levers and extend outwardly of the casingand are trained over a series of pulleys 13 carried by the automobileand are connected to an arm 14:. The

the automobile.

desired point .upon in convenient reach of the operator. -By moving thecontrolling "indicators will move or elevate into signalingposition toindicate aturniinone direction and by moving the controlling lever overthe segment in anopposite direction, the other signalorindioator will be.moved into signaling position. [Assoonaslthe 1e- "ver is returned to aneutral position; the signal or ;in di cator previously having; beenmovedf to signaling position willwreturn to position wfith-in-thecasingbyinfiuence' of the 'respective'spring 11 's" a r V The indicators areoffholloiv formation and 'havefltheir sides closed with? opaquepanels'fl 'i 'characters18. Thecharacters 18 upon one 0f the signalsor-indicators forms the-word #Righfim indicate i acturn toithe right,while the other signal or indicator bears 'thexcharacterlfiLe fttoindicate a turn-to the left.

The indicators or Signals in general outline represent arrowsfand theirenlarged'tends carry electriclamp-sockets 18 in which elect ric flamps19 are, located. @The electric" lamps 1 9 lare disposed within thesignalsor .ductoi'SQO and 21.

i a ors a d, have connected thereto .con- The conductors20 and 21 are inturn connected -to contacts 22 can, 7: ried'by-the segmentlG. .Aconductor 23 is connected to a storage battery oriother electrical 7source 241 ,{and to the electric lamps l9. conductor 25is connectedtothe battery or.- electrical source 24: and to the lever 15 which ;isinsulated from the segment 16 natjed when tthe signalsjor indicatorsare, eler d or Vm9 d'.-. int0 s g a ing position hy the c onolliugtlever -cngag ng the oni so that lupon moving the lever intoengage- I v the contacts .22, the, vvelectric lamps 19 willzbeilluminated. The electric lamps '19 are adapted to beiillumi- 7' mentwith either of tacts 22.

a The casing 1. is provided with. arcuate shaped slots .26 adapted .toreceive plns 27 formed'on the signals or indicators and are adapted toguide the signals orindicators i into and out:of,the casing and also-tomaintain tthe signals or indicators .in horizontal 4 position whenelevated as the springs 10 bearing against,;the said indicators will"cause the {pins 27 to engage thenends of. the

slots 26. r

latter is pivotally of said bell the other, signals pivoted to .the ofthe bell cranklevers andjnormally reston which areformed transparent formaintaining tions means to a 7 position e 'ing',' and means {membersWhile I have shown and described the I.

preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that minorchanges 4 in construction, combination, and arrangement of parts maybemade withoutdepartc ing from thespirit and scopeoi the nven-f tion asclaimed.

zHaving thus described the invention what I claim is V I 1. A directionindicator comprising a casing having its cu per end open, and providedwith guides ots, bell crank leverslpivotedin said Casing and one of thearms crank levers being longer, than long arms ing horizontallywithin'said leasing and being disposed in opposite directions,- meansfor sivingingthe bell cranklevers upon their pivots to elevate .thesignals into a. position exteriorly of the casing, pins carried thesignals andextending into the slots to guide the; Signals into andloutof the casing, means y p the, s gnals in horlzontal pos tion whenelevated, and means ior V =re-,

tion within the casingw 2.Q A directionindlcatorcomprising aYc asw inghaving its top wall open, bell crank levers pivoted in'said casingadjacent each end thereof signals pivoted. to' the bell crank levers andresting normally Within 2 and disposed in opposite direcfor swinging'the bell V crank "1e said casing .vers upon theirpivots to elevatef thesignals casinghaving 'arc'u'ate shaped slots, pins carried by saidsignalsand movable in'the slots 7 o guide the. slgnals into and outof;the ca sfor returning thesignals to a non-signaling positionywithin thecasing.-

,A direction ndicator comprising a cas- -'i ,ng having its top wallopen,.s upport1ng -members,piyotallyzmounted in said casing,

X'teriorly' of the casing, said 7 vturning;the signals toanoirsignalingfposisignals .pivo'tallyj connected to said supportsaidcasing, means iorfguidingathe' signals into and out of the easing;tension means 7 for malntainlng the s gnals into' ;hor1 zonta l positionwhentelevated means ior moving" the sup porting members on their pivots:to elevate .thevsignals, and .tens1onq means' for returning .thesignals to a position within th kcas ngr V 1 H 7 l testimony e eo I at;ys j nature in presence of two witnesses;

/ :7 MARIOfUV E GI N I \Vitnesseszi V c GENNARO STRIANo, ,EM A-NAPOLHLANO.

and. normally resting; {within ice

